Locking clips for retaining parallel elongated members

ABSTRACT

Described are clips for collecting sensors into multi-sensor arrays for insertion into wells and the like. The clips are adapted to easily receive the sensors and provide a lock for securing the sensors once installed. The clips can be adapted for use with elements other than sensors, in particular for applications in which a number of relatively elongated members are to be secured in parallel.

BACKGROUND

Environmental consciousness and newly promulgated laws placeever-increasing emphasis on maintaining water quality in lakes, streams,groundwater, and industrial effluents. Due to this emphasis, there is agrowing market for systems capable of monitoring various physical andchemical properties of water resources. Parameters of interest includeconductivity, dissolved oxygen concentration, oxidation-reductionpotential (ORP), pH, temperature, and depth, to name just a few.

Surface-water data is typically collected using immersed sensors.Collecting groundwater data can be more troublesome, often requiringthat wells be drilled for sensor insertion. Drilling wells is expensive,but the cost can be reduced by minimizing bore diameter. Sensors for usein wells are therefore made to have relatively small diameters. For adetailed description of typical sensors, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,944 toHenry et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

It is often desired to simultaneously monitor two or more water-resourceparameters or to measure the same parameter with a number of redundantsensors. Such applications sometimes require a number of sensors becollectively inserted into a single well. Due to the desire to maintaina small well diameter, sensors are often staggered along a well bore formulti-sensor applications. Unfortunately, staggered sensors may bemonitoring materially different water samples. Moreover, the water insome wells may be too shallow to submerge multiple sensors arranged inseries. There is therefore a need for a means of introducing a pluralityof sensors into narrow-bore wells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A depicts a sensor 100 that can be combined with like sensors tocreate multi-parameter systems for monitoring groundwater insmall-diameter wells.

FIG. 1B depicts a clip 130 adapted to bind together three sensors 100 ofthe type depicted in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C depicts a multi-sensor array 160 that includes three sensors 100arranged substantially in parallel.

FIG. 2A depicts a lock 200 for insertion into respective compressionreliefs 145 of a pair of clips 130.

FIG. 2B depicts a multi-sensor system 220 similar to system 160 of FIG.1C but with three locks 200 inserted into compression reliefs 145 tosecure sensors 100 within respective retaining bays 140.

FIG. 2C depicts a side view of system 220 of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 depicts sensor system 220 of FIG. 2C inserted into a well 300.

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of a clip 400 adapted to support threesensors.

FIG. 5 depicts a clip 500 adapted to support four sensors.

FIG. 6 depicts a clip 600 that supports six sensors.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict a clip 700 that can be used in conjunction withanother identical clip to support seven sensors.

FIG. 8 depicts a two-sensor clip 800 in which the compression relief 805is semi-circular.

FIG. 9 depicts a clip 900 that can be used to place three sensors in aplanar array.

FIG. 10 depicts a clip 1000 adapted to host an array of six sensorsarranged in two parallel planes.

FIG. 11 depicts a clip 1100 that include differently sized retainingbays.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A depicts a sensor 100 that can be combined with like sensors tocreate multi-parameter systems suited for monitoring groundwater insmall-diameter wells. Sensor 100 is representative of a number ofsubstantially cylindrical sensors used for e.g. sensing temperature,depth, pH, and ORP of groundwater. Sensor 100 conventionally includes acable housing 105 that provides a secure, watertight connection betweena cable 110 and a sensor body 115. The opposite end of sensor body 115connects to a sensor housing 120. Sensor body 115 houses the electronicsnecessary to drive signals generated by a sensor in housing 120 out ontocable 110. Sensor 100 includes a pair of grooves 125, the widths ofwhich are designed to accommodate a clip, described below, for securingsensor 100 to one or more other sensors. One or both of grooves 125 maybe incorporated into body 115.

FIG. 1B depicts a clip 130 adapted to bind together three sensors 100 ofthe type depicted in FIG. 1A. Clip 130 includes three retaining elements135 that define between them three retaining bays 140. Each retainingbay 140 has a diameter D that is somewhat greater than an opening Edefined between adjacent pairs of retaining elements 135. Diameter D isselected to snugly accommodate grooves 125 of sensor 100.

In some embodiments, threads in sensor body 115 mate with oppositethreads on sensor housing 120. The width of the groove 125 definedbetween housing 120 and body 115 can therefore be altered to accommodateclip 130. In one such embodiment, screw-tightening housing 120 into body115 with clip 130 installed compresses clip 130 between housing 120 andbody 115 to provide a secure mechanical connection, and screw-tighteninghousing 120 into body 115 without clip 130 installed eliminates thegroove. Grooves 125 differ in FIG. 1A to show two examples, but aretypically of the same type.

Compression reliefs 145 ease the compression of respective retainingelements 135 to admit sensors 105 into retaining bays 115. Eachcompression relief 145 includes a pair of lock-retaining tabs 155, thepurpose of which is explained below in connection with FIGS. 2A through2C. Clip 130 is sufficiently rigid so sensors 100 snap into place, inthe manner depicted in FIG. 1C, to form a multi-sensor system 160 thatincludes three sensors 100 arranged substantially in parallel. In oneembodiment, clip 130 is Delrin™ plastic, but other materials are alsosuitable.

FIG. 2A depicts a lock 200 for insertion into respective compressionreliefs 145 of a pair of clips 130 (FIGS. 1B and 1C). When installed,lock 200 reduces the flexibility of flexible retaining elements 135, andconsequently secures sensors 100 within retaining bays 140. Lock 200includes a pair of slots 210 and holes 215. Slots 210 mate withrespective compression reliefs 145: holes 215 engage lock retaining tabs155 to secure lock 200 within compression reliefs 145. Lock 200 includestapered ends that ease insertion and extraction of sensor system 220into wells, tanks, and the like.

FIG. 2B depicts a multi-sensor system 220 similar to system 160 of FIG.1C but with three locks 200 inserted into compression reliefs 145 tosecure sensors 100 within respective retaining bays 140. FIG. 2C depictsa side view of system 220 of FIG. 2B with one of locks 200 omitted tobetter depict a pair of reliefs 145.

FIG. 3 depicts sensor system 220 of FIG. 2C inserted into a well 300.Well 300 includes a water level 310 that is too low to accept aplurality of sensors arranged in series along the depth of well 300.Multi-sensor system 220 connects to an aboveground receiver 315 via asturdy cable 320.

FIGS. 4-10 depict various alternative clip embodiments for securingmultiple sensors. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a clip 400 adapted tosupport three sensors. Clip 400 includes a hole 405 that allows water todrain out of the cavity defined between three sensors. Hole 405 may beadvantageous in embodiments in which the sensors tightly contact oneanother to minimize the collective diameter, and thus create a more orless sealed compartment between them. Hole 405 may also be used to mounta collection of sensors to a rod or cord, or to provide an avenue for acable.

FIG. 5 depicts a clip 500 adapted to support four sensors. Of interest,clip 500 includes only a single compression space 505 that maybeprovided with a lock (not shown) of the type discussed above. Providedclip 500 is sufficiently resilient, clip 500 can be assembled into amulti-sensor system by snapping sensors into three retaining bays 510,leaving one retaining bay adjacent compression relief 505 for the lastsensor. Compression relief 505 can be locked after inclusion of the lastsensor.

FIG. 6 depicts a clip 600 that supports six sensors. Clip 600 includes acompression relief 605 that differs in shape from the compressionreliefs depicted above to show that the compression relief used in agiven embodiment can be adapted as desired. In this example, a lock 610snaps into relief 605. Lock 610 is also depicted in side-view(upper-most depiction).

FIG. 7A depicts a clip 700 that can be used in conjunction with anotheridentical clip to support seven sensors without increasing thecollective multi-sensor-system diameter beyond that provided by clip 600of FIG. 6. Two clips 700 can be combined as depicted in FIG. 7B to forma seven-sensor clip 710. The pair of clips 700 share one groove 125. Theportions of clips 700 that do not overlap when forming clip 710 can bemade twice as thick as the overlapping portions, if desired.

FIG. 8 depicts a two-sensor clip 800 in which the compression relief 805is semi-circular.

In some cases arrays of sensors are not inserted into a well, but mightinstead be placed e.g. on the bottom of a lake, pond, or stream. Planarsensor arrays may therefore be preferred in some embodiments. FIG. 9depicts a clip 900 that can be used to place three sensors in a planararray. A locking mechanism 905 is attached to clip 900 via a flexiblemember 910 to keep the locking mechanism and clip together when clip 900is unlocked. Sensors 100 should be loaded left-to-right, leaving thesensor bay adjacent the compression relief for last.

FIG. 10 depicts a clip 1000 adapted to host an array of six sensorsarranged in two parallel planes. Clip 1000 includes a single compressionrelief 1005. Clip 1000 should be loaded left-to-right, leaving one ofthe retaining bays adjacent compression relief 1005 for last.

FIG. 11 depicts a clip 1100 that includes differently sized retainingbays. Such embodiments may be desired for use with different types ofsensors or to attach one or more sensors to e.g. a support. For example,a collection of sensors may be attached to a support rod adapted toposition the sensors at an appropriate position within an effluent well.Though not shown, the retaining bays may also be of shapes other thansemicircles and may be adapted to secure elongated elements havingnon-circular cross-sections.

While the present invention has been described in connection withspecific embodiments, variations of these embodiments will be obvious tothose of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the clips describedabove can be used secure elements other than sensors, such as cables,poles, pipes, and electrical conduits. Therefore, the spirit and scopeof the appended claims should not be limited to the foregoingdescription.

1. A system comprising: a. a plurality of elongated elements disposed inparallel, each element having a circumference; and b. a clip having: i.a first retaining element; ii. a second retaining element including acompression relief; and iii. a retaining bay defined between the firstand second retaining elements and adapted to receive one of theelements; c. wherein the compression relief is adapted to easecompression of the second retaining element.
 2. The system of claim 1,further comprising a lock adapted to fit within the compression reliefto reduce the ease of compression.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein thecompression relief includes at least one lock-retaining element adaptedto secure the lock in the compression relief.
 4. The system of claim 2,further comprising a member extending between the clip and the lock. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the first retaining element includes asecond compression relief.
 6. A clip comprising: a. a plurality ofretaining elements defining a plurality of retaining bays; b. acompression relief disposed in at least one of the retaining elementsbetween the retaining bays, the compression relief easing compression ofthe respective one of the retaining elements; and c. a lock positionedwithin the compression relief.
 7. The clip of claim 6, wherein the locksnaps in place within the compression relief.
 8. The clip of claim 6,wherein the retaining bays are semicircular.
 9. The clip of claim 6,wherein the lock is fixedly attached to one of the retaining elements.10. The clip of claim 9, wherein the lock is fixedly attached to the oneof the retaining elements via a flexible member.
 11. The clip of claim6, wherein the retaining bays are arranged in a circle about a commonaxis.
 12. The clip of claim 6, wherein the retaining bays are arrangedin a linear array.
 13. The clip of claim 6, wherein the retaining baysinclude a first retaining bay of a first area and a second retaining bayof a second area less than the first area.
 14. A monitoring systemadapted for insertion into a liquid, the monitoring system comprising:a. an array of sensors arranged in parallel, each sensor having arespective cable extending up out of the liquid; and b. a clip havingfirst and second retaining bays, each retaining bay adapted to receiveone of the sensors.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the retainingbays are defined between ones of a plurality of flexible retainingelements, and wherein at least one of the flexible retaining elementsincludes a compression relief adapted to ease compression of the atleast one retaining element, and thereby to ease admittance of at leastone of the sensors.
 16. The system of claim 15, further comprising alock adapted to fit within the compression relief to reduce the ease ofcompression, and thereby to secure the at least one of the sensors inthe respective one of the retaining bays.
 17. The system of claim 14,wherein the liquid is water.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein thewater is groundwater.